Automatic ware pressing machine



May 19, 1.953 J. JORDAN 2,638,654

AUTOMATIC WARE PREssING MACHINEv INVENTOR.

JACOB JORDAN ATTORNEYS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

J. JQRDAN JORDAN Y. E N R O U A INVENTOR.

JACOB BY Ur AUTOMATIC WARE PRESSING MACHINE 4| Illl May 19, 1953 Filed Jan. 18, 1951 May 19, 1953 J. JORDAN 2,638,654

AUTOMATIC WARE PREssINC MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1951 6 SheelLS-Sheel'l 3- ClA 'F165 //3 I lll A. /55

I N VEN TOR.

.JACOB I JORDAN ATTOR N EYS May 19, 1953 J. JoRDAN I 2,638,654

AUTOMATIC WARE PREssING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1e, 1951 s sheets-sheet 4 Flc. 4

May 199 1953 J. JORDAN Z AUTOMATIC WARE PRESSING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 18, 1951 FIG. 6

JACOB JORDAN By/ Fl 7 ATTORNEYS i v l INVENToR.

May 19, 1953 J. JORDAN AUTOMATIC WARE PRESSING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 18, 1951 INVENTOR.

JACOB .5f/Ly- J ATTORNEYS Patented May 19, 1953 Jacob Jordan, New

Castle,

Pa., assignor to Shenango Pottery Company, New Castle, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 18, 1951, Serial No. 206,684

Claims.

This invention relates to an automatic die press machine and, more particularly, to amachine for automatically and continuously forming ware pieces from a continuously supplied pug of plastic material, such as a suitable admixture of wet clay. p One method of forming ceramic ware is to provide a pair of moisture absorbing dies of suitable conformation between which a bat of wet clay is pressed under high pressure. Excess moisture in the clay is absorbed by the dies so that .upon separation of the dies and removal of the clay from therebetween, `an accurately shaped piece of green ware is obtained which needs only to have the flash removed before it is ready for the bisque fire.

Successful ware forming by the above method requires that drainage means be employed for the moisture absorbent dies themselves so that excess water may be drawn away from them. This excess water removal is accomplished by forming hollow passages in the absorbent ldie and putting these passages under a vacuum which tends constantly to draw moisture through a vacuum line and away from the inside `of the die by suction. In order to facilitate separation of the pressed ware from the dies after the pressing operation is completed, it is desirable to introduce pressure into the vacuum lines, tending to blow back water to the surfaces of the dies to meisten the surface of the now relatively dry pressed ware, thereby decreasing adhesion of the ware to the dies and simultaneouslyT tending to blow or force the ware from the dies.

After a number of pieces have been pressed according to this method it is desirable to purge the dies by keeping pressure on the vacuum lines for a relatively protracted length of time while the dies are separated and removing the water thereby forced to the surface by suitable means such as the wiping action of an air blast.

W'hile a manually controlled, manually loaded and manually unloaded absorbent die press can be used to form satisfactory pressed: ware, operation of such a device is inherently cumbersome. From a 'time and .motion viewpoint, awkward movements, requiring time and `skill'to master, are lnecessary to handle the wet clay andto position it carefully between the dies.` Care, skill, vand awkward movements are also required in removing the pressed warefrombetween the dies. To keep the moisture content of the dies below .fan objectionable amount, either the dies must be "pursedfafter each pressing Operation which consumes a prohibitive amount of time or the dies must be purged periodically which is timeconsuming to a lesser degree and which entails a varying (gradually increasing) moisture content of the absorbent dies between purges despite the exhaust of some moisture through the vacuum line.

The present invention overcomes the above Vdisadvantages and provides a machine which will automatically and continuously perform the full cycle of operations involved in the ware pressing process. The present invention does not mere-ly contemplate duplication of the operations previously performed by hand; assuming such a machine could be built it would be prohibitively expensive and intricate and therefore impractical. The'present invention, rather, utilizes the ability Vto control the surface moisture .content of the absorbent die in such a manner as to make possible a relatively simple series of operations including loading and unloading by gravity. In order to decrease the time required `for each individual pressing operation, the invention also provides novel means for varying the speed-of the first of the two mating absorbent dies involved in each individual pressing operation as the first die is moved toward the other die. The machine requires the attention of only unskilled labor and, moreover, greatly reduces thenumber of man hours required to produce each thousand dozen pieces. Also, there is more uniform moisture absorption by the dies since meansare provided for purging each die during the time interval between successive pressing operations of that given die.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a fully automatic continuous ware pressing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ware pressing machine with high unit output.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ware Apressing machine capable of operation by unskilled labor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine which will automatically purge absorbent ware press dies during each cycle of their operation.

Another prime object of the invention is to provide a method for continuously automatically pressing Ware.

A further object of the invention is to provide ya method for automatically pressing ware which makes possible accurate and constant control of the amount of moisture removed from the plastic material which is stamped.

absorbent dies with a pieceof newly formed green ware therebetween.

Figure 8 is a section taken on line 8-3 of Figure 3 with the foremost pressure-vacuum valve and the valve actuating plunger superimposed thereon.

Figure 9 is a schematic representation of the hydraulic system used in the invention.

The complete ware pressing machine is most clearly seen in Figure l. Resting on the floor is a hollow rectangular casting li) having,r access panels l l provided therein. Fixed immediately above casting I9 is a hollow rectangular casting I2. Secured in the castingV I2 are four columns i3 which support on their top ends a hollow rec tangular casting I4. Mounted between the castings I2 and I4 are two overlapping turret-s, 25 and `25, each rotatable about its own vertical axis.

Rather than by further cataloguing the various main'elements, the general organization of the invention can be more eiectively explained by briefly tracing the steps through which a piece of clay passes from the time it is out from theslug delivered by an associated pug mill until the time it is carried away from the machine as a piece of formed green ware.

The output end gli of a pug mill delivers a slug of wet clay 2l. A .bat is cut from this slug by a vblade 22 carried on a reciprocating fork 23. The

bat falls a short distance onto a lower moisture -absorbent die at the loading station A (see ure 3) or the lower turret 25.

The bat is then intermittently advanced along with its associated die through 90 in the direction indicated in Figure l to the station B and from there to the pressing station C. Upon each intermittent advance of the lower turret 25 through 90 the upper turret 2t is also advanced 90 in the direction indicated in'Figure l. After the clay bat reaches the pressing station C a hydraulic cylinder Sii forces a plunger il down.. The plunger tI in turn forces down a reciprocating die shaft assembly d2, only the tip of which can be seen in Figure l. This die shaft assembly is one of four such assemblies, each of which is slid ably carried on turret 25. The absorbent die plate associated with the particular die shaft assembly engaged by the plunger 3l is forced down therewith until. 'the clay bat at station C is squeezed between the upper and lower dies at that station under high pressure in a manner more fully explained below.

During the above operations there is a constant vacuum on the particular lower die involved. As the pressing operationv is completed pressure is introduced into this lower die by means fully set forth below, thereby forcing a iilm or water to the die surface. As a result, when the cooperating dies at Station C are separated the pressed bat is released from the lower die and adheres to the upper die to be carried upward therewith. The dies are separated by cau-sing the air cylinder to retract the plunger 3| since the die shaft assembly 32 always tends to return to its top limit as will be more fully explained below.

On the succeeding 99 step of ythe turrets, the pressed bat is carried by the top turret to the unloading station D. At this station pressure introduced into the normally evacuated air line of the particularv top die concerned and this pressure together with formation of the resultant moisture film on the die acts to release the pressed bat so that it drops a very small distance to the ,.surfaceof. a 4conveyor Ibelt 35 which has been omitted in Figure l for purposes yof clarity but which may be seen in Figure 2.

Intermittent turret drive Located on-the rear wall of the hollow casting I0 is a hydraulic motor 45 which drives a shaft 4I. Fixed to the shaft 4I is a worm 42. Rotat- Iablyrinountedl inthe castings il! and I2 is a vertical lshaft 43. Fixed on the shaft 43 is a spur gear ,44 in meshiirlg engagement with vthe worm 42. Also fixed on the shaft 43 are two pairs of vdrive plates 45, 46 and 41,@3. Fixed on the shaft 43 between the drive plates 45 and 46 is a lock member 49. Y Another Vloci: member 511i is iixed on the shaft' '43 vbetween the drive plates `4'! and 48. RotatablyY mounted in drivenplates 45 and '46 near their radial extremities is adrivo pin 5I Rotatably mounted in drive plates 4l and 4S near their radial extremities 'is second'drive pin Rotatably mounted in the castings il and I2 are vertical turret shafts 2l and 23. The shaft V2l extends above Acasting l2 to turn the lower 'turret 125. Thesnaft 28 extends above the casting I2` to turn the upper turret 25. The lower turret 25 is mounted on the hydrostatic oil bearing illustrated in Figure. An oil pump 58 pumps oil from the bottom of casting I d through the line '59. The yoil flows out of the openings 593 in this line onto the planar lbearing surface 6I thus forming a iilm of oil onvwhich the lower arret 25 is rotatably supported. Excess oil drips down through drain holestZ to the pump formed by the bottom of the casting IE).

Fixed to the shaft 2l is adriven member 55 having slots 56 and yconcave peripheral surfaces t1. Fixed te the shaft 2s is a Similar driven memvll'I and 48 together with the lock members 43 and 5B and the drive pins '5l and 52. This arrangement forms a pair of Geneva drives with the drive pin 5i engaging the slots 59 and the drive pin 52 engaging the slots 55.

The drive pin 52-is angularly spaced 90 ahead of the -drive lpin 5I so that -at-the moment the pin 52 engages one of the slots 55, the pin 5I engages one of the slots 59.

During one quarter of a revolution of the shaft .43', the drivepins yare in engagement with their respective slots to advance the driven members 55 and 58. During the remaining three quarters revolution of the shaft 43 the driven members 55 and 58 are held stationary by the circular segment of the periphery of each of the locking :members 5D and -49 which engage with whichever one is presented vof each of the groups of concave peripheral *surfaces* '51 v'and lill, relspecitively. f. Y. Plunyerwetuatimt Driven from the constantly rotating shaft-43 by a suitable bevel gear drive is a shaft 1|! havingmounted thereon the radial cams 12 and 13. These cams 12 and 13 periodically operate fourway valves 11 and 18, respectively, intimed relation with the motion 'of the turntables 25 and 26. The valves 11 rand 18 are part of the plunger control hydraulic system illustrated schematicalily in Figure 9. y

As indicate-d in this figure, ,the die actuating plunger 3| is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder 33. The hydraulic lines carrying uid tojand Afrom this cylinder 33 may be referred toasprimary lines, ow through which is directly controlled by the large primary valvesk `'and 63. The remaining hydraulic lines and valves serve merely to control the action of the primary valves iand '58 'and may therefore be referred tol-as pilot lines and valves.

The primary line 8| delivers 4fluid to the primary valve Attl from a suitable source `(not shown) which has a, capacity of 80ygallons perminute anddelivers fluidunder a pressure of 200 p. s. i. The primary line 8,5 delivers fluid to the primary valve 69 from a suitable source (not shown) which has la capacity ofrlr5 gallons perminute vand delivers fluid under a pressure of 1,000 p. s. i. A pilot line 8'6 vdelivers fluid to the pilot valves 11and 18 from a suitable source (not shown) In Figure 9,k the ports `of the primary valves,

B8 and 69, and the pilot valves 11, 18jand 8|]are `all labeled in a similar manner, A, B,C`, and D.

A designates the pressure port, B the return port, and both C and D are' ports `connected to operating lines. In the case of secondary valves 11, 18, Iand 8U, in one valve position A- communicates with C and B communicates with -D while in the opposite position A communicates WithD and B with C. There is no neutraly position of these valves. The ports of the primary valves 68 and l69 communicate in a similar manner in the two alternate limit positions of these valves but both these primary valves also have a neutral position in which port A is closed 01T 'and C and D both communicate with'B.' Both these primary .valves are normally spring urged to neutral position. 'Ihe 'portsD of the pilot valves 18 and 80 and of the primary valve 69 are plugged.

For convenience in discussingl Figure 9, the

various individual ports will be identied below by the identifying number of the valve followed by the identifying letter of the port, asvfr--example, 11A. y

Initially `the cam followers on the pilot valves 11 and 1B are both in lowered position `so that 11A and 11D communicate `and 18A and 18D communicate. Pressure from the linevB' kthus passes through line 9U into I68E topositionlthe valve 68 so that '68A and I68D communie-ate as do 68B and 68C. Pressure from .the high volume primary line 8| thus passes throughy line `83 into the cylinder 33 to urge the plunger 3| up. In this position the plunger 3| is out cf contact with the follower of the valve 8|! so that 80A and 30C' communicate and 80B isclosed off. f v

At the proper time for actuation of the plunger 3|, the cam 12 raises the cam follower of the valve 11. Pressure nowl rflows from `line -86 through 11A and 11C, line 88, 8|lAy 80C, and line 89 to GSF to reverse the valve 68 so that primary -pressure flows from high volumeline'8l ithrough 58A, '68C;and;line;182.;,toIthe-;t0p of the, cylinder `closed off and 68F-communicates with the pilot ydump line 81 lthrough line 89,. 80C,- and 80B.

Meanwhila 68E is also vented to the pilot dump line 81 through line 90, 11D and 11B. The valve f618 thus shifts to itsneutral position so that the primary; lines 82 vand 83 both communicate with the primary dump line 84 and the plunger 33 'stops moving. -The internaloriiices of the valve l68 are arranged `so that momentarily during vmovement to theneutral position all ports are closed. v y, This servesto provide a momentary positive hydraulic lock in the lines 82 and 83 in order (in cooperation with the plasticlresistance of the clay betweenthe dies)v to overcome the inertia ofthe veryrapidly moving plunger 3|. Apressure relief valve maybeprovided to guar-d against rupture of the line 83 at this time.

f The plunger 3| .is now at rest after having vrapidlycompleted the major part `of its downward movement.. YActuation of `the pilot valve 18 -loy thecam 13 now serves to initiate the remaining high pressure movement of the plunger. Ihe cam 13 maybe adjustably mounted so that the interval during which the plunger remains at its intermediate stage of rest may be varied. After `the cam 13 raises its rassociated follower pilot pressure flows from the line 86 through 18A, 18C, 'and line 9| to 69151, thereby shifting the primary valve lt9 from neutral vso that primary pressure may flow from line 85 through 69A, 39C, andlineY 93 to the cylinder 33. A branch line 94.1 eads from the line 9| to normally open check valve 95. located in the line 82. Pressure in the .line 94 thus closesoff the line 82 so that the primary pressure `acting through the line 83 #acts to relatively slowly force the plunger 3| further -down under extremely high pressure to complete the pressing operation.

Shortly .thereafter the cam 13 allows its assovciated follower to drop, causing the primary pres- ;sureirom thev line V85 to be cut off. After several more degrees of rotation, the cam 12 allows its .associated cam follower to rise thus causing 11A ,to communicate with 11D which in turn causes l|8Aland|58D to communicate sothat primary pressure from the line 8| returns the plunger to itsf upward position to complete the full sequence ofjzoperations of the plunger control hydraulic system. l

vDie vacuum and pressure system' and reciproca Wmocmtii/Lgs for upper dies i v Als may be seen` in Figures 1 and 3, each of the turrets 25 and `2&3- has four dies mounted on it. The dies onthe turret 25 are fixed to this turret. 'The `dies on theturret 26 are mounted for vertical reciprocation on reciprocating die shaft assemblies 32, one of which is illustrated in cross-- section in Figure 8. j

Each die shaft assembly comprises a central shaft ll threadedly receiving at its bottom end. a stud formed on the shank lill of the chuck grippingmember" |02. Surrounding and secured :in anysuitable manner to the shaft |08 is sleeve l 03 .having'"a backing nface i3.` Surrounding'lthe .assemblies on the turret 26.

sleeve |03 vis a sleeve: |04 having an enlarged bore portion |05 `formed therein. Received Vin the. bore `|05 .is -a lpiston |36 threadedlysecuredon .the vsleeve |03 against the shoulder I0-'L The pin and slot serve to hold the reciprocating die shaft assembly r'32* against-rotation relative to theturretv 23.

Thel bellows -31 and shields '98 are provided at each end of the reciprocating die shaft assembly 32 to s hieldthe sliding surfaces `from dirt-.and excess clay. Y

A pressure line llll-andva'cuum line the former connected to anair pressure source and the latter to an air vacuum source `(not shown), lead into the intermittently revolving turret -26 through a distributing head generally indicated at l2. Threadedly received on the vreduced portion H3 ,of the shaft 28 is a fplug ||1,f-w-hich bears against a washer H3. Rotatably received betweenthe plug Hl and the washer ||8 is a collar i9 having an annular groove |20 'formed therein. Sealing rings |2| are'carried in slots :formed in the plug il. Communicating with the bore |27 ofthe plug |1 aretwo radial passages, |22 and |23. The passage |23 is threaded to receive a line |24 Iwhichispassed through suitable passages in the reduced portion H0 of the shaft28 andina nut |25 which serves to clamp the turret 23 against the shoulder |26.

The passage |22 communicates with the annular groove 1 29. The pressure line y| l0 leading from is threaded to receive the plug andalsoa disc |23. rEhe disc |29 and plug rotatably receive a pipe. |30 which is coupled to the Vacuum ,line The bore |28 communicates with a radial passage` |3| formed in the reduced portion I6. The passage |23 in turn vcommunicates with ,a passage `|32 having a suitable connection to the line |33.

The line |24 communicates with one port of a valve |34, while the line |33 communicates with another port of ,this valve. Similar connections from the lines |24 and |33 runto three other valves, identical to the valve |34.and.corres spending to the three remaining die operating When the roller |35 of. the valve |34 is in normal raised position ,the line |33 communicates with the valve outlet line |35 whilel the line |24 is cut 01T. When the roller |35 is depressed the line |24 communicates with the valve outlet and the line |33 is cut off. vFor ease of illustration, the line |36 from the valve |34 in Figure 8 is shown as connected to the die shaft assembly 32 at station C, .although this particular valve actually is connected to the die .shaft assembly .32 at station D.

Branching oi the line |24 is a line |31 which communicates with the chamber dened by the borev |35. This line-continuously admits air under pressure to continuously urge upwardly the piston 03 and the. associated die shaft assembly 3.2.

The line |36l communicates with Van annular groove |38 formed in the backing face H3. The groove |38 communicates with suitable drilled passagesin the shank |0| which, in turn, open .upon theinside ,face of the chuck gripping'mem- -ber .|02 .to communicate with spiral'passages |4| formed in the absorbent die |42. Thus.. when the roller |35 israisedJ yvacuunris applied to the absorbent die |42 and when this roller is depressed, pressure is-applied to absorbent die |42.

Theroller |35 is normally urged to upward position by a spring (not shown) within the body of the valve |34. This roller |35 is lowered by contact--withthe cam ridge |33` or by extension ofthe plungerv |42 which is actuated by a small hydraulic cylinder, |43. This cylinder is mounted on the casting`|4 in such a position that as a given die shaft assembly 32 reaches the station D, its `associated valve |34 lies directly under the plunger |42. The'operation of the plunger 42 is controlled in timed relation to movement of the turrets by `a -cam |45 (see-Figure 9) mounted on the shaft 10 which operates a four-way valve |46 similar to the valves 11 and 18. The valve 1146 reverses the `direction in which pressure runs inthe linesleading' to the cylinder |43 to raise and lower the plunger |42 depending on whether the cam follower of the valve |45 is raised or allowed to fall by the cam |45. 'I'he cam |45 is angular-ly adiusted on the shaft l0 so that after a given upper die has been at rest at station D avery short time the plunger |42 operates to depress the rollerv|35 of the valve |34 associated with the given upper die; Air is thereby blown back into the upper die forcing a nlm of moisture to the surface of the die thereby causing release of the pressed ware. The conformation of the cam |45 is such that shortly before or after subsequent advancevof the turrets, the plunger 4 2 is returned to its up position, causing the roller |35 either to be .raised while the turretis stationary or to lroll oi the plunger |42 as the turret starts torotate.

The pro-vision of this plunger |42 provides for an accurate control `of the time of release of the ware after thefgiven upper die has come to rest at station D, asis explained above. To provide for :further application of back pressure to this upper kdie during its rotation through stations -E and F so that the die may be fully purged of excess moisture before its next pressing operation, the cam ridge |39 is provided. The roller |35is depressed by this cam ridge shortly after the upper die leaves station D and is released shortly after the' upper die reaches station The location of this cani ridge v|33 is shown in phantom View in Figure 3. At station F the removal of purged moisture from the die may be aided by suitable wiping means such as an air blast directed from an airnozzle |41.

The upper-valves 34 are vertically mounted while the lower valves |52 are horizontally mounted simplyl because it has been found expedient to so mount these respective groups of valves.

As may be seen in Figures '7 and 8 each of the bottoni chucks and chuck gripping members |53 is provided with passages similar to the passages |33 and |4I. `Pressure and vacuum on each bottcm chuck is controlled through the line |5| by an associated -valve 52. vThere are four valves |52, 'each associated with one of the lower dies. Pressure and vvacuum is distributed to these vvalves through a distributing head |53 (see Figure 3) Similar to the distributing head ||2. Rollers |54 on each Valve |52 are raised or lowered either by the 4cam ridgei|55 or by the plunger |55' which is operated by a hydraulic cylinder |51 controlled in turn by a valve |53. The cam yfollower associated with the valve |58 is depressed. by-.the cam |59 `adjustably.mounted.on

.9A the shaft The plunger |56 is located so that as a given lower die is at station C the roller` on its associated valve |52 is adjacent to plunger |56. The cam |59 is set so that the valve |58 is depressed just after the pressing operation at station C has been completed. This forces a film of water to the surface of the lower die at station C so that as the dies are separated the pressed ware will separate easily from. this lower die and be carried upward by the upper die. As the lower die leaves station C the roller on its associated valve |52 leaves the plunger |56 and the valve thus momentarily re-applies vacuum to the chuck. The valve roller soon engages the cam ridge |55, however, and pressure is re-ap-v plied to the die. The die is thereby purged as it moves to the station G. At this station excess moisture is removed as by a high" pressure air blast delivered from a nozzle |60. The cam ridge |55 terminates shortly beyond this station so that vacuum is applied toeach die ,as itreachesthe loading station A.

- Operation The operation of the invention has been outlined above but is repeated here in greater detail.

As a lower die reaches station A it is under vacuum. A'switch |62 is trippedloy the lower die causing one reciprocation 'of the blade 22 to cutoff a bat of clay from the extrusion 2| being delivered by the pug mill 20. The bat falls on the lower die.

On the next intermittent advance of the turrets the bat'is carried to station B. No operation is performed at this station.

`On the ne'xt intermittent advance of the turrets the bat is carried to the pressing station C. Shortly after it arrives the valve El is tripped by its' cam 'l2 to initiate rapid downward movement of the plunger 3|. This rapid downward movement is checked by the valve 8B. Shortly thereafter the valve 'i8' istripped by its cam 13 td'ir'iitiate the final slow vdownward movement of the plunger 3| to cause the dies atstation C to subject the batto very Vhigh pressure. the upper and lower die are under vacuum during the squeezing operation so that excess moisture is vdra-wn out ofthe clay bythe absorbent' dies.

As the dies finally come together the' valve `|553 is tripped by its cam |59 to raise the plunger |56." The associated valve |52 is thereupon tripped to blowV moisture back tothe surface of thedower die. AShortly after this is done the valve 18 is tripped by the cam 73" -causing the upper'die to be raised. 'The moist lower 'die easily parts from the pressed ware which'adheres to the upper die and iscarried up therewith.v

Uponthe next intermittent advance of the turrets, the roller on the particular valve |52 leaves the plungerlt but is almost.immediatelyre-depressed by the cam ridge |55 so'that purging of the lower die is therebyn initiated. Meanwhile, the upper die advances to unloading station D. After it comes torest atl this station the vvalve |46 is tripped by thecam 4,5 to .extend the plunger |632 and actuate the then associated valve |34 to blow moisture baci; to the surface of the upper die and thereby release the ware so that it drops onto the conveyor belt 35.

On the next succeeding intermittent advance the roller on the particular valve |34 rolls off the plunger |42 but is almost immediately re-depressed by the cam ridge |39 so that purging of the upper die is thereby initiated.

Purging of the lower die continues during the majority of the movement of this die from the station C' to the station G. The wiping action of the air blast directed from the nozzle i6@ at station G aidsin removing the purged moisture from the surface ofthe die. Shortly after the lower die leaves this station the cam ridge |55 terminates allowing the particular valve |52 to return to the die vacuum applying position.

Purgingy of the upper die continues during the majority of the movement from station D to station E, during rest at station E, during movement from station E to station F and during rest at station F. A nozzle |41 similar to the nozzle |66 maybe located at this station F. Shortly after the upper die leaves this station the cam ridge |33 terminates, allowing the particular valve-'|34 to return to the die vacuum applying v position.

Both c Second die.

It will be apparent that this invention is not limited-to the particular embodiment disclosed above but that alterations in this embodiment may be made within the scope ofthe present invention. For example, die wiping means other than the air nozzles |41 and |50 may be provided or stati-on B may be made the loading station to allow for purging of the lower dies through a greater ang-ular displacement. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims. 1

What isfclaimed is: v

l. linV a ware presser, a rst moisture absorbent open-faced die, a second moisture absorbent open-faced die adapted to mate with said first die when said dies are in axially aligned position, means to deposit moist plastic material on said rstdie when said dies are in axial misalignment,

means to axially align said dies, means to axially compress said dies together while they are axially aligned thereby to form said moist plastic material and to Aremove excess moisture therefrom, means to axially separate said dies, means to decrease adhesion of said plastic material to said first die at the initiation of said axial separation whereby said plastic material will temporarily adhere to said second die, means to axially misalign said dies, conveyer means passing under s aid .second die gand4 facing said second die in one of its axially misaligned positions, and means to decrease adhesion of said plastic material to said second die while said second die is in said one ofv its axially misaligned positions thereby to cause separation of -said plastic material from said second die and transposition of said plastic material away vfrom said dies by said conveyer.

2. A device as defined in claimv 1 wherein said first die positionedA relatively lower than said second-die.

r3. A method -of ,forming potteryware rwhich comprises dropping moist plastic material on the first of a pair of absorbent dies, squeezing said materialbetween the pair of dies to shape the material and expel excess moisture therefrom intor the dies, blowing 4moisture back to the surface of theiflrst die, separating the dies and blowing moisture back tothe surface ofthe (i. IIn a ware 4die, press a lower turret carrying a lower set of moisture absorbent open-.faced dies, an upper turret carrying an upper set of moisture absorbent open-faced dies, means to concurrently advance said turrets, said turrets overlapping at a station so that successive complementary pairs consisting of an upper and a lower die are moved into juxtaposition at said station upon advance of said turrets, actuating means to compress each of said successive complementary pairs of dies together', conveyory means passing under and adjacent. to said upper die at other than said turretl overlapping station, said conveyer extending. away from said ware die press, means to exhaust air and moisture from and to blow air and. moisture back into each of said upper and lower absorbent dies at preselected times during the cycle dened by one complete rotation of each of said upper and lower dies on its associated turret, said preselected time for blowing air and moisture back into each of said upper dies being the time during which each of said upper dies is positioned above said conveyer means.

5. A device for forming wareY from wet clay comprising a frame, a pair of rotatable turrets mounted in said frame, a plurality of moisture absorbent dies mounted on each ofl said turrets, said turrets overlapping to allow successive juxta positioning of dies mounted on one of said turrets with dies mounted on the other of said turrets, each individual die having a die control valve associated therewith and mountedfor rotation with the same turret on which. the individual die is mounted, each of said die control valveshaving a first pressure-vacuum outlet port communica-te ing with. the interior of its associatedmoi'sture absorbent die, a second pressure supply port, a third vacuum supply port, means supplying pressure to each of said second. ports, means. supplying vacuum to each of said third ports, each of said valves comprising shifting means to alternatively operatively connect said first port with said second and third ports` and actuating means to actuate said shifting means. atl preselected times during the cycle defined by` one complete rotation of each of said die control valves-along with its associated turret.

6. In a pottery ware press,means todeposit moist clay on an. open-faced upwardly facing presselement, means to compress the clay between said-upWard-ly facing-press element and an open-faced downwardly facing press element to form-thel clay and .remove mois-ture'tl'ier'efrorm means to cause the clay to adhere-to said downwardly facing press element upon separationvof saidpress elements, a conveyor extendingaway fromthe vicinity of said press elements,v means to transpose said downwardly facing'press ele-- ment to a position immediately. over'. saidcon-- veyer and means to release the clay from said downwardly facing press element whereby said clay is gently deposited onsaid conveyor and carried away from said press.-

7. In aware press, at least'vone pair of dies permeable by moisture, means to deposit Wet clay therebetween, means ltti-squeeze said pair of dies together, meansto substantially decrease sion between said clay and one of`v pair' of dies during the time said dies are squeezed together, means to separate said dies `whereby said clay adheres to the other ofsaid pair of dies; and means to substantially decrease adhesion be-Y tween said clay and said other of said pair of dies during the time said pair of dies is sep-- elrated, all ofl said means automatically operating in a continuous cycle.

8'.. A press for' 'ceramic clay including a frame, a first turret mounted in said frame and rotatable past a loading station and a pressing station, a second turret mounted in said frame and rotatable past said pressing station and an unloading station, clay receiving means and turret drive means associated with said first turret to carry clay from said loading station to said pressing station, means to press said clay at said pressing station between said clay receiving means and cooperating means associated with said second turret, means to transpose saidclay to said cooperating means upon completion of said pressing, means associated with said second turret to carry said clay from said pressing station to said unloading station and means associated with said second turret to unload said clay at said unloading station.

9. The method of forming potteryware comi prising dropping a bat of wet plastic clay on a first moisture. permeable die, vertically aligning said rst die with a second complementary moisture permeable die, bringing said dies together to squeeze and form the plastic clay and to expel excess moisture therefrom into the dies, introducing baci; pressure into said rst die, separating said dies, vertically misaligning said dies, introducing back pressure into said second die.

10. In a ware forming press a frame, a turret mounted for rotation in said frame, a plurality of moisture permeable dies mounted on said turret and radially spaced from the axis thereof, intermittent drive means to intermittently ad Vance said turret to intermittently successively advance each of said moisture permeable dies to a certain location relative to said frame and to continue to advance each of said dies therefrom through a complete rotation of said turret to denne a cycle for each of said dies, actuating means mounted on said frame and cooperating means on said turret to` introduce pressure into the interior of each of said dies during a portion of the time they are at rest at said location and cam means on said frame to coact with said cooperating means on said turret to introduce pressure into the interior of each of said dies during preselected portions of the remainder of said cycle of each said dies.

JACOB JORDAN.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,505,042 Leigh Aug. 1.2, 1924 1,613,500y Chamberlain Jan. 4, 1927 1,717,996 Moore, Jr. June 18, 1929 1,759,058 Miller May '20, 1930 1,906,566 Friedl May 2, 1933 2,183,869 Randall et al. Dec. 19, 1939 2,200,998 Schnuck May 14, 1940 2,278,513 Emerson Apr. 7, 1942 2,354,029 Kingston July 18, 1944 2,358,353 Stacy Sept. 19, 1944 

